Dalai Lama's envoys holding talks with China resign

Published: Monday, June 4, 2012, 0:00 [IST]

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Dharamshala, Jun 3: Two special envoys of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in talks with Beijing since 2002, have resigned citing the 'deteriorating' conditions in Tibet and frustration over lack of positive response from Chinese side to the dialogue process.

The resignation of Lodi G Gyari and Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, who have held nine rounds of talks with the Chinese side as part of the dialogue process which remains stalled for over two years now, has been accepted by Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile Lobsang Sangay, a spokesperson of Tibetan 'cabinet' said here on Sunday.

"Given the deteriorating situation in Tibet since 2008, leading to the increasing cases of self-immolation by Tibetans, we are compelled to submit our resignations," the envoys said in their letter. The last meeting with the Chinese side took place more than two years ago, in January 2010.

"One of the key Chinese interlocutors in the dialogue process even advocated abrogation of minority status as stipulated in the Chinese Constitution, thereby seeming to remove the basis of autonomy. At this particular time, it is difficult to have substantive dialogue," the letter read.

The Tibetan government-in-exile, meanwhile, urged Beijing to accept the Middle-Way Approach, which seeks genuine autonomy for Tibetans within the People's Republic of China (PRC) and within the framework of the Chinese constitution, and said it 'is ready to engage in meaningful dialogue anywhere and at any time'. Beijing has been accusing the Dalai Lama of trying to separate Tibet from China. In their latest spat, the Tibetan spiritual leader had alleged that Chinese agents might try to eliminate him, a charge which has been denied by Beijing.